Hi NAM,

So my shocks were all shot on my 05 MCS with 49k miles and replaced them with Bilstein B4, Swift Spec R, new Meyle front top mounts, new Lemforder rear bushings, and these fixed camber plates. After the installation, I hear front clunking when going over steep speed bumps such as the ones with spike strips entering a gated community. It sounds metal to metal, like coils hitting each other or struts bottoming out.

What should I look for? I checked everything is tight, top mounts, swaybar link, pinch bolt, etc. Am I missing anything? Is there a proper way to tighten the swaybar links? Could it be the motor mount? I see leaking but I am not sure if it has ever been replaced.

Also, not that I am complaining as its not my daily and I plan to autocross/track the car, but is the ride really supposed to be this hard and almost bouncy? Am I riding on uncut bump stops? When parked, the top 4 coils are touching (see pic) Going from blown struts and oem springs, the ride is now noticeably harsher. I can’t speak to the handling yet.

Thanks in advance.

 

Your motor mount has failed and is leaking. It will make a mess if not immediately replaced. Easy job.

 

Thanks JAB. Do you think the failed engine mount is causing the clunking? I also replaced the pulley and maybe didn't tighten the lower engine mount? For sure i’ll be replacing the upper passenger side mount even though i am not sure if it has been replaced. Car is new to me and I don’t see any cracking. The leak could possibly from an old mount. Is there an easy way to know if this needs replacing?

On the plus side, I was able to fix the bouncy ride by cutting the front bumpstops.

 

The failed motor mount is changing the geometry of the suspension. The front driveshaft is not at the appropriate angle and you are putting extra stress on it with the failed mount. Kinda difficult with out hearing the noise but I had a similar noise to what you describe in the rear because of a loose sway bar link, however - a bad driveshaft will make a clicking sound in the front.

 

There's no way those spring coils should be touching. I would wager that's where your noise is originating. You have more than motor mount issues.

 

Thanks for the response. So, I've replaced both engine mounts but the clunking is still present. You mentioned that they shouldn't be touching. I thought they were dead coils? Could I possibly installed them incorrectly? could I have gotten the wrong springs? I doubt that i have the wrong struts though. thanks in advance.

 

Thanks for the response. So, I've replaced both engine mounts but the clunking is still present. You mentioned that they shouldn't be touching. I thought they were dead coils? Could I possibly installed them incorrectly? could I have gotten the wrong springs? I doubt that i have the wrong struts though. thanks in advance.

 

Id double check you have the correct springs. I have an Eibach Sachs set up which look very different in shape , the diameter of the spring is much wider than the seat area on mine... will see if I can get a photo for you.

 

Thinking more about it id say your spring rate and or length isn't right. Hopefully these photos are a little help, afraid I didnt have any of them when I took them out last year to fit strut plates.


Loaded suspension (Parked up)

Only shot I have of the unloaded stut

 

What I got are swift spec r springs and they have the markings on the springs. They seated correctly when installed. There are no issues in handling aside from the clunking when going over speed bumps a little too fast and nowhere else. I tested the swaybar bushings by disconnecting one endlink and the clunking still persisted leading me to suspect the dead coils hitting each other. I have the control arm bushings ordered just waiting to get them installed. I’ll try spring sleeves next to see if they quiet down.

any other ideas?

 

My coils are only touching each other when compressed, not when unloaded. I guess I’ll just take it to a MINI specialist when having the FCAB done since that’s a job I don’t want to tackle. Thanks for your time.

 

Those dead coils are supposed to touch. Edit: looks like too many may be touching, but that's how progressive springs are designed in order to mimic a helper spring.

Are you positive that the nut holding the whole assembly is fully seated? I had trouble when I last installed coilovers on my Tiguan because I had issue getting the front center shaft nut properly tightened. Made all kinds of noise.

 

Hi Vee,

I checked multiple times that the top nuts were tight. I used a spring compressor and a pass through socket and an allen wrench and tightened them really well. I also checked other bolts and nuts. I’m inclined to think that the clunk is simply from the dead coils because the car drives tight, and the clunk only happens when aggressively driving over a speed bump (like when you accidentally didn’t see it). Could that be it? Springs decompressing then compressing again?

 

Hello NAM,

I’m glad to report that my clunking has been resolved. After having a shop replace front control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, ball joints, and tie rods, clunking no longer happens. I don’t exactly know what fixed it, whether it was the FCAB or sway bar bushings or the ball joints as they were all shot.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

Did you replace your LCA bushings with Powerflex? Did you replace both outer and inner ball joints? And what kind of sway bar bushings did you use? On visual inspection were any of these parts conspicuously worn out? Thanks.

 

FCAB and SB bushings were both replaced with poly bushings. The FCABs were definitely worn. Up on jack stands, you can see a lot of play when kicking the tires. The old rubber SB bushings had nicks in them. Not sure how that would happen. But the inside part has what looked like deep gashes. The ball joints were ok but didn’t feel as tight as the new ones. The tie rods were seized so they definitely needed to be replaced. I’m inclined to say the clunking were from the FCAB because it would happen even with one swaybar link disconnected.

Thank again for the help. On to the next project - r56 brakes.